RAMALLAH Ñ Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat faces
increasing pressure within his leadership amid efforts to meet U.S. demands
to streamline his regime.
On Sunday, Arafat is scheduled to discuss elections with a
newly-appointed panel in wake of a call by Palestinian legislators. For his
part, Arafat has rejected holding new elections until Israel withdraws from
the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
So far, the campaign to reform the PA has thrown the regime into
disarray. The Qatari-based A-Jazeera satellite television reported on late
Saturday that 20 Cabinet ministers have already submitted their resignations
to Arafat. The Palestinian Al Ayyam daily reported on Sunday that 15
ministers resigned in an effort to fulfill Arafat's pledge to reduce the
cabinet.
Palestinian sources said several Palestinian ministers were alarmed by
reports that Arafat was working with U.S. officials on a plan to reduce the
Cabinet from the current 34 to 19 members. They said the plan was said to
have been drafted by U.S. officials along with Arafat's financial adviser
Mohammed Rashid.
Rashid has been the target of a campaign by Palestinian reformers. The
reformers charge that Rashid has been one of the most corrupt members of the
authority and has not maintained any accountability to the Palestinian
leadership.
